Da Silva-Lopes Commits Posh Future

The football club are delighted to confirm that Leonardo Da Silva-Lopes has secured his future with Peterborough United.

Peterborough United are thrilled to confirm that teenager Leonardo Da Silva-Lopes has committed his long-term future to the football club.

The attacking player, who has been named on the substitutes bench for the first team this season, has excelled within the Academy and scored a supreb goal in the FA Youth Cup success over Notts County at the ABAX Stadium.

The 16-year-old, nicknamed 'The Magician' by caretaker boss and Academy Manager Dave Robertson, put pen to paper during the half-time interval of the first team fixture with Bradford City.

'Leo has committed his future to the football club. He is an exciting player. We knew when we gave him the opportunity in the FA Youth Cup against Notts County that he would excite the supporters and he scored an unbelievable goal in that victory.

'We are really pleased that he has committed his future to the football club and look forward to working with him and helping him to progress,' Robertson told theposh.com.

Chairman Darragh MacAnthony was delighted to secure the services of both Da-Silva-Lopes and goalkeeper Dion Henry (story here):

'I am very excited to have finally tied down the future of both Leo and Dion, the next two youth team members we feel have a fantastic chance to play in the first team over the next 24 months and both of whom have stood out over the last couple of years. Securing the future of our best young talent is always the most important thing for me and the football club and I look forward to seeing both of them progress into fine young men and excellent professional footballers,' MacAnthony said.

Da Silva-Lopes joined Posh as a 14-year-old from local club Powerleague. Duane Baker, the manager of Powerleague, who is also a big Posh fan, was extremely helpful in the initial discussions that saw the youngster join the Posh Academy.

He moved schools during that process and now attends the Nene Park Academy, the training base for the first team and the Academy.